Chapter 26

TWO WEEKS LATER

ELIZABETH

The smell of aged paper and ink surrounded me as I carefully slid the final book into place on the top shelf. Balancing on the wooden ladder, I glanced down to see Haley standing by the counter, her graceful hands clutching a stack of documents. She looked like she always did-poised and elegant, with her soft brown eyes framed by delicate lashes. But today, her usual warmth was absent, replaced by a subtle shadow of worry.

Climbing down, I greeted her with a smile. "Hey, Haley. Everything okay?"

Haley returned the smile, but it was thin, forced. "Oh, Elizabeth. I didn't see you there."

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" I asked gently, brushing dust off my borrowed jeans. Haley sighed, placing the documents on the counter with a deliberate motion.

"Well, it seems the library's ownership is... complicated now," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"What do you mean, complicated?" I stepped closer, folding my arms.

Haley pulled a chair from the corner and sat down, smoothing her skirt. "The original owners of the library-well, technically, of this entire block-have returned." She shook her head. "Their family name is Elvador. Ever heard of them?"

I frowned, the name stirring something faint and untraceable in my mind. "No, but that sounds... big."

"It is," Haley replied bitterly. "They've claimed not just the library, but The First Quarters as well. You know, the mansion nobody's lived in for decades? The mayor's always preserved it as a historical site, but somehow, they got the rights to make it their home."

"That sounds... unfair," I said, sliding into the chair across from her. "What happens to the library? To your family?"

"They're not firing anyone," Haley said quickly, "but it's frustrating. My family has run this library for years. My parents worked so hard to make this place the heart of the neighborhood, and now these people waltz in like they own everything." She chuckled humorlessly. "Well, I guess they do."

I shook my head. "Do you think there's anything you can do? Maybe Vanessa's mom-Claire-could help?"

"Claire Bennet?" Haley asked, perking up slightly. "She's brilliant, but even she would have a hard time going up against people like this. The Elvadors have power, Elizabeth. The kind of power that makes mayors and judges bend the rules."

Her words sat heavy in the air, but I managed a reassuring smile. "At least the library is still here, right?"

"For now," Haley said softly.

By the time six o'clock rolled around, I was more than ready to leave the heavy atmosphere behind. Vanessa burst through the library doors with her usual enthusiasm, holding a garment bag in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.

"Time to get you out of here," she declared. "Bonfire night, baby!"

I laughed. "You're really excited about this."

"You're not?" she asked, feigning offense. "This is New Orleans! Bonfire night is a big deal."

She tossed the garment bag onto the counter and unzipped it to reveal a black corset, denim shorts, and black boots. "Here," she said, shoving them into my arms. "Change. You're going to look amazing."

I did as she asked, slipping into the outfit in the library's restroom. When I emerged, Vanessa gave an approving whistle. "See? Hot. Nic's going to lose his mind."

I rolled my eyes trying to hide my blushing cheeks behind my curly black hair. I really was kind of looking forward to seeing him there. He had been so kind and caring for the past two weeks . We had gotten closer ... I liked him but ofcourse I wasn't going to admit that to Vanessa just yet .

The bonfire was already in full swing when we arrived. The flames danced high into the air, crackling and popping as people laughed, danced, and drank around it. The smell of wood smoke mixed with the faint tang of beer and the sweet scent of candied nuts being sold from a nearby stand.

Vanessa immediately disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing by the fire. I didn't mind; I felt oddly at ease watching the flames.

"Hey there," came a familiar voice.

I turned to see Nicholas standing a few feet away, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans. His hair was slightly tousled, and he smelled faintly of cologne-clean and inviting.

"Hey," I said, my smile growing unbidden.

He stepped closer, holding out a beer. "Thought you might need this."

I took it, the cold bottle chilling my fingers. "Thanks. You're here off-duty, huh?"

"Surprisingly, yeah," he said, smiling. "Rare night off. Figured I'd spend it here."

"Good choice," I said, nodding toward the fire. "It's... peaceful."

He raised an eyebrow, laughing softly. "You call this peaceful? A bunch of drunk twenty-somethings shouting and dancing?"

I shrugged. "It's a different kind of peace."

We found a quieter spot near the edge of the crowd and talked for what felt like hours. Nicholas told me about his childhood in New Orleans, about how he used to sneak into old buildings with his friends, convinced they were haunted.

"What about you?" he asked. "What did you do for fun growing up?"

I hesitated. "I... don't really know."

He nodded, his expression softening. "Sorry. That was a stupid question."

"It's okay," I said, smiling. "But I think I would've liked sneaking into haunted houses."

He grinned. "Horror fan?"

"Definitely. But no cheesy romance movies. I can't stand those."

He laughed, tilting his head back. "Same. Maybe that's why I'm a cop-chasing danger, no time for sappy love stories."

"Chasing danger," I repeated, laughing. "You make it sound so heroic."

"Hey," he said, leaning closer. "I've been in my fair share of car chases. That counts."

"Oh, it totally counts," I said teasingly.

His laughter faded into a softer smile, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink around us. Without thinking, I leaned in, and he met me halfway.

The kiss was soft at first, then deeper, more intense. His hand rested gently on my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin. When we finally pulled apart, I felt breathless, my heart racing.

"That was..." I started, unable to find the words.

"Yeah," he said, his smile turning shy.

When we returned to the fire, hand in hand, I couldn't stop smiling. But the energy around the bonfire had shifted. People were whispering, their attention focused on a small group near the edge of the crowd.

Vanessa appeared beside me, rolling her eyes. "Of course they're here," she muttered, gesturing with her cup.

I followed her gaze to a stunning blonde girl standing confidently by the flames. Her hair was so light it seemed almost white, and her piercing grey eyes scanned the crowd like she owned it. She wore a blue mini dress and black boots, her every movement graceful and deliberate.

"That's her," Vanessa said. "One of the Elvador siblings. The bastards who took over the First Quarters."

Behind the girl stood two men, both devastatingly handsome, with sharp features and an air of authority. Something about them struck me as eerily familiar.

My head swam, and I staggered back slightly. Nicholas caught my arm. "Elizabeth? You okay?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly, though my pulse was racing.

The blonde girl's eyes locked onto mine, and a slow, knowing smirk spread across her face. She raised an eyebrow, as if she was surprised or amused to see me.

"Let's get out of here. Lets go find you some food and some water." Nicholas said gently.

I nodded, tearing my gaze away from the strangers. But as we walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew them. Somehow, I had seen them before. Maybe I had too much to drink, and some water sounded like a good idea. I held Nicholas' hand tight as I felt like someone was watching me.